Outbreak Background – May 16, 2025 Update
Federal health officials, working with state and local authorities, investigated a multistate Listeria outbreak connected to frozen supplemental shakes that has resulted in 42 infections, 41 hospitalizations, and 14 deaths across 21 states. The outbreak, traced to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands, primarily affects residents in long-term care facilities and hospitals.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has now closed the investigation.
The outbreak is considered to be over.
Product Details – May 16, 2025 Update
None of the recalled shakes should still be available on the market.
Timeline – May 16, 2025 Update
The investigation began when the FDA received notification of the outbreak on November 25, 2024.
The first case was traced back to August 17, 2018. The last infection was traced back to March 13, 2025.
Location of Affected Individuals – May 16, 2025 Update
- Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee – 1 to 2 sick people each state
- California, Indiana, New York – 3 to 4 sick people each state
- Texas, Illinois – 5 to 6 sick people each state
Demographics – May 16, 2025 Update
| Demographics | Information |
| Age (information from 42 people) | Range from 43 to 101 years old Median age of 78 years old |
| Sex (information from 42 people) | 55% female 45% male |
| Race (information from 33 people) | 76% White 24% African American/Black |
| Ethnicity (information from 33 people) | 94% non-Hispanic 6% Hispanic |
The CDC said that it investigated this outbreak in 2018, 2021, and 2023 but there was not enough information to identify a specific food that was the source of the outbreak.
The investigation was reopened in October 2024 after six more illnesses were reported.
Laboratory and Traceback Findings – May 16, 2025 Update
Traceback efforts revealed that affected facilities had received frozen supplemental shakes from either Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial brands. Both companies have initiated voluntary recalls of their frozen supplemental shakes that are within their shelf-life dates.
Previous investigations had been unable to identify the source of the outbreak, but recent traceback efforts focused on invoice records from affected facilities dating from 2024 to present. These records confirmed the presence of either Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial frozen supplemental shakes at each location that provided documentation.
Consumer and Commercial Action – May 16, 2025 Update
On February 28, 2025 the implicated nutritional shakes were recalled by Lyons Magnus LLC.
Health Risks – May 16, 2025 Update
Listeria infection symptoms typically develop within two weeks of consuming contaminated food but can appear as soon as the same day or as late as 10 weeks afterward. Initial symptoms of Listeria infection may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases can progress to headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
The infection poses particular risks to pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems. While pregnant women typically experience mild symptoms like fever and fatigue, listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns. Other individuals can become infected but rarely develop serious illness.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of listeriosis should contact their healthcare provider immediately for evaluation and care.
The national law firm of Ron Simon & Associates is representing victims from this deadly frozen nutritional shake Listeria outbreak.
